Henry James Babbitt (1825 - 1907)

Born 24 Aug 1825 in Gorham, Ontario, New York, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Dorcas E (Black) Babbitt — married 1851 (to about 1860) in Amity, Allegany, New York, United States

Husband of Wealthy M (Standish) Chaffee — married Jan 1866 (to about 1880) in Ward, Allegany, New York, United States

Descendants

Died 17 Aug 1907 at age 81 in Alfred, Allegany, New York, United States

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Pvt. Henry Babbitt served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: Jul 9, 1864
Mustered out: Jun 13, 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): 136th New York Infantry Regiment

Biography

Early Life

Henry James Babbitt was born on 24 August 1825 on a farm in Gorham, Ontario, New York. He was the oldest of seven children of Joseph Lake Babbitt and Mary Jane Ellison and was raised as a Methodist. The family migrated south to Allegany County around 1829, eventually settling on a farm in the Town of Amity that was upwards of 128 acres in size.

Henry married Dorcas E Black, daughter of Moses, in 1851 in Amity (in what is now part of the Town of Ward). Together they had three daughters: the first was unnamed (she passed away soon after birth), Emma Cornelia Barber, and Clara Belle Jones. They lived on his father's farm, where Henry helped work until his father's death in 1869. He also was trained and worked as a carpenter.

On Civil War records, he is described as 5'7" tall with blue eyes, brown hair, and a light complexion.

Military

On the 9th of either July or September 1864, Henry enlisted into the 136th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment in Castile, Wyoming, New York with the intention of serving for a year. He was mustered in as Private to that regiment in Company I on the same day. Depending on the record, his occupation was listed as either a carpenter or farmer when he enlisted. He served honorably for either 9 or 11 months before being discharged on 13 June 1865 with his company near Washington, D.C. As a result of his service, Henry received injuries to his spinal cord and hip.

Life After Military

Upon his discharge from the infantry, Henry returned to his family's farm, where his wife Dorcas died in 1865 (either before or after his return). He remarried to widow Wealthy M Chaffee (née Standish) in January 1866 in Ward. He most likely inherited the farmland from his father near Phillip's Creek in Ward, which is where they lived. He was granted letters of administration of his father's estate sometime between 1888-1893.

By 1875, Henry was living in Alfred. His daughter, Emma, died in 1874, so Henry took responsibility of her daughter, Florence. Her son, William, was still with their father. Once Wealthy died in 1886, Henry spent much of his time living with his daughter, Clara, and her husband. He occasionally stayed with his granddaughter, Florence, and her family. He lived with Clara and husband at the time of the 1900 US census, and with Florence and family at the time of the 1905 NYS census.

He was a lifelong Democrat and was very well-read, having taken a deep interest in the current events and affairs of the country.

Death

Henry died at the home of his daughter, Clara Jones, in Alfred on 17 August 1907 due to heart trouble, and was buried two days later in Alfred Rural Cemetery.

Obituary

Henry J. Babbitt, son of Joseph L. and Mary J. Allison Babbitt, was born in Ontario Co. N.Y. in 1825, and died at the home of his son-in-law, Carlyle Jones in Alfred, Aug. 17, 1907, aged 82 years, from heart trouble.

In 1851 he was married to Dorcas Black. To them were born three children; one died in infancy, two grew to womanhood. Emma died in 1874. Bell, now Mrs. Carlyle Jones, with whom he spent the last days of his life and by whom he was kindly cared for, lives at the Five Corners in the town of Alfred.

In the fall of 1864, he enlisted in the 131st regiment, New York volunteers (actually 136th regiment) and served with honor until the close of the war.

After his return from the army he was married in Jan. 1866 to Wealthy Chafee. Since the death of his wife he has made his home much of the time with his daughter, Mrs. Jones, and a granddaughter, Mrs. Wm. Marvel of Alfred Station, where everything possible was done for his comfort.

Mr. Babbitt was a life long Democrat, and was always deeply interested in the affairs of the nation. He was a well read man, always well informed on the topics of the day.

The funeral was held at Mr. Jones home on Monday afternoon, conducted by Rev. B. F. Rogers, the burial being in the Alfred Cemetery.

- "Death of Henry J. Babbitt". The Alfred (NY) Sun, vol. XXIV, no. 34, 21 August 1907, pg. 1.

Sources

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch, Henry D Babbitt in household of Joseph S Babbott, Amity, Allegany, New York, United States; citing family 54, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• Ancestry.com: Henry Babbitt in the U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880. 1850.
• "New York State Census, 1855," database with images, FamilySearch, Henry J Babbit in household of Joseph L Babbit, E.D. 1, Amity, Allegany, New York, United States; citing p. 20, line #12, family #173, county clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 501,952.
• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch, Henry Babbit in entry for Joseph L Babbit, 1860.
• "New York State Census, 1865," database with images, FamilySearch, Henry J Babbit, , , , New York, United States; citing Census, p. 14, citing multiple county Clerks; Warren and Lewis County Board of Supervisors; multiple counties in New York; Utica and East Hampton Public Libraries, New York.
• Ancestry.com: H Babbott in the U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918. 1869.
• "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch, Henry J Babbitt, 1870.
• Ancestry.com: Henry C Babbett in the U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880. 1870.
• "New York State Census, 1875," database with images, FamilySearch, H J Babbitt, Alfred, Allegany, New York, United States; citing p. 11, line 25, State Library, Albany; FHL microfilm 501,956.
• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch, Henry Babbet, Allegany, New York, United States; citing enumeration district ED 1, sheet 12C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,809.
• "United States Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War, 1890," database with images, FamilySearch, Henry J Babitt, 1890; citing NARA microfilm publication M123 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 338,213.
• "New York State Census, 1892," database with images, FamilySearch, Henry Babbitt, 1892; citing Ward, E.D. 01, county offices, New York; FHL microfilm 501,959.
• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch, Henry J Babbit in household of Carlyle Jones, Alfred Township Alfred village, Allegany, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 1, sheet 13B, family 354, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,008.
• "New York State Census, 1905," database with images, FamilySearch, Henry J Babbett, Alfred, E.D. 01, Allegany, New York; citing p. 21, line 33, various county clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 501,960.
• Ancestry.com: Henry Babbitt in the North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000.
• Fulton History: "The Surrogate's Transactions - March 26th (first)". The Cuba (NY) Patriot, April 1888-1893, pg. 1.
• "United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865," database, FamilySearch, Henry J. Babbitt, Private, Company I, 136th Regiment, New York Infantry, Union; citing NARA microfilm publication M551 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 4; FHL microfilm 882,060.
• Ancestry.com: Henry J Babbitt in the New York, U.S., Grand Army of the Republic Records, 1866-1931.
• Ancestry.com: Henry J Babbitt in the New York, U.S., Registers of Officers and Enlisted Men Mustered into Federal Service, 1861-1865.
• Ancestry.com: Henry James Babbett in the New York, U.S., Town Clerks' Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War, ca 1861-1865.
• Ancestry.com: Henry J Babbitt in the New York, U.S., Civil War Muster Roll Abstracts, 1861-1900.
• Ancestry.com: Henry J Babbitt in the U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865.
• NYS Military Museum and Veterans Research Center: Unit Roster for 136th New York Infantry Regiment. pg. 756.
• "United States General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934", database with images, FamilySearch, Henry J Babbitt, 1882.
• "United States Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917", database, FamilySearch, Henry J. Babbitt, 1907.
• Fulton History: "Death of Henry J. Babbitt". The Alfred (NY) Sun, vol. XXIV, no. 34, 21 August 1907, pg. 1.
• "New York, State Death Index, 1880-1956", database, FamilySearch, Henry J Babbit, 1907.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #81195869